Samsung simplifies the process of fixing your Galaxy smartphone yourself.
Samsung is aiming to delight its customers similarly to how Apple does, and contributes to environmental conservation at the same time. Samsung has declared that owners of Galaxy smartphones and tablets will no longer require external assistance to mend their gadgets.
Instead, Samsung will supply authentic components, repair tools, and easy-to-follow guides for anyone eager to attempt fixing their device. The cherry on top: Samsung is joining forces with iFixit, a team that has shed light on the scarcity of repairability in Samsung devices for years.
The Galaxy S20 and S21 families of smartphones will be the first eligible devices, enabling users to change the display, back glass, and charging port, and then return the utilized, damaged parts to Samsung for sustainable recycling. Samsung has plans to widen the spectrum of self-repair possibilities in the future.
Tablet users will also have the chance to fix their devices. The Galaxy Tab S7 is the first tablet to receive support for self-repair, with services commencing this summer.
Samsung takes this opportunity to remind users about its same-day repair services, including more than 2,000 outlets in the continental U.S. for repairing your mobile devices. The company also offers "We Come To You Vans," providing in-person device service within a 30-60-minute drive of the base station for those outside the specified area. For distant regions, Samsung will provide a shipping box for sending your device out for repair.
If the announcement sounds familiar, it's because Apple kicked off this trend by declaring it would distribute the essential repair parts and tools for customers to fix their iPhones and Macs at home. The initiative, called Self Service Repair, now offers replacement parts for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series, as well as Mac computers integrated with M1 chips.
With Samsung joining Apple in enabling users to repair their hardware purchases independently, other manufacturers may soon follow suit, as both Samsung and Apple have the support of DIY advocates like iFixit.
Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, expressed enthusiasm in a Samsung press release, stating, "We're thrilled to be consulting with Samsung to help develop a self-repair solution for authentic parts and repair information. With every fixed device, you’re contributing to the preservation of the planet."
This is particularly inspiring for users feeling helpless in the face of their daily reliance on gadgets and the minimal repairs they can manage. Previous releases like the Fairphone smartphone and Framework laptop have captured my interest, as they allow the device buyer to swap and fix components with support from the original manufacturer.
Samsung is committed to expanding the self-repair possibilities for its devices in the future, offering users the ability to fix their Galaxy Tab S7 tablets this summer. By encouraging self-repair, Samsung and Apple are fostering a shift in the tech industry, inspiring other manufacturers to follow suit and promote sustainability and environmental conservation in the future of technology.
